After a great planning meeting with our partner Babis, we met Haris Lefakis an old friend of Andrew Hadley and a professor responsible for some of the biggest classical music events in this region. Harry is chairman of Thessalonikis Conservatory of Music. What an inspiring and interesting gentleman.
We then went on to see some of the amazing history of Thessaloniki, first the Arch of Galerius (Roman Emperor who built much of the ancient city.)
Then we saw a number of the city's famous churches dating from the time when this was the second city of the Byzantine Empire - all about 2 metres below modern street level.
I was amazed at seeing so many visible remains of this city's history.
We then walked past the Rotunda (also dating from the Roman Empire) my goodness how I wanted to see inside. But the strangest site was seeing a scooter waiting for a haircut, now you don't get that in the UK!!!
The night was made complete by making a return visit to a restaurant run by Kostas who remembered Andrew after 8 years and talked fondly about Andrew's leaving party where 40 people were dancing in the tables to traditional Greek music!!! The food and music was very special.
Walking home we saw the excavation for the new metro and the problem with building in a city with so much history it isn't long before archeological ruins are found. Here you can see 20 metres under the road the original Roman paths and sewers - breathtaking and humbling to think of all the life that took place here 2000 years ago!
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